Kind of pleased so far. Need to change the color of the woman's jacket though. Can't see it. Either that, or outline it. I think I'll change it. Need to add the front foliage and then paint in the seagulls and the simple detail. So, having done all that, I believe I am finished. Thank you for joining me in this journey....What should I paint next?

Well, it is 12:15 pm on Saturday. Getting ready to paint again. I opened the pallet box (which is a product by Masterson) The box is rubberized plastic and seals closed. If you fold paper towels about 2 1/2 inches wide and place them around the sides, wet them and then place your acrylic paints on top, they stay wet. In the center, keep either a wet sponge or wet paper towel and the paints last forever. The center can be used to mix your paints. I used to waste a lot of paint because the acrylics dry so quickly. So by way of my usual procrastination, I shared with the the wonders of my pallet.... I guess I should start painting. My roadblock this time is what color to paint the clothes on the people, and also to decide what they could be sitting on. Once I pick up the brush, I'll probably be ok. I'll be using the easel today. I already sprayed the paint in the pallet to soften it more.

OK, I painted her shirt yellow and her hair light brown. We'll build them up later. Now, for him.. Still a bit nervous about this whole thing. Silly though because, as I said, I can always paint over it. I'm using the 1/2 inch flat brush right now.

Well, back to the drawing board (?). The first step, for me, before picking up the brush is procrastination. I think about the painting. I see it in my head. I place it where I will pass it and notice it each time. I finish parts of it in my imagination. I wander around doing whatever else I can do to prolong the start of painting again.Since I always do this, it apparently is part of my technique.

So, unable to distract myself further, I set up my painting either on an easel or a table, get the paints ready, and finally pick up the brush again. This time I began with a small brush and painted in the water, then I moved some of that color into the sky and the foliage. The next step was to take a dabbing brush and add some blue to the foliage closest to the water to begin to make it look further away.

Next, using a flat tipped brush, I worked some purples and blues into the sand for shadows, also touching the sky with the same colors here and there. I added some white to the sand/path where the sun would be touching it.

Decided to take you with me as I paint this acrylic painting. I began it a couple of days ago and will be working on it for the next few days. I started out just doing the pathway to the beach, but I've decided to add people to it. I rarely do anything with people but recently painted a book cover jacket for a client which required a couple. I liked how it came out and so decided to place a couple here too.

My brother informed me a couple of years ago that I only paint in winter. Seems that is true. Once I begin to long for Spring and Summer, my creative juices begin to flow. So, aside from the commission work, this is my first Winter painting this year.

I've been doing watercolors for the book cover jackets and needed the fun and simplicity of acrylic to settle my soul. They are fun to do because they dry fast (as opposed to "wet on wet" watercolor paintings), and if you want to change it, you can just paint over it.

So, as I bring you with me, I'll keep you posted...we will try the people and if they don't work out, we'll PAINT OVER THEM. Hope you have fun.